Myocyte-specific enhancer binding factor 2C (MEF2C) expression in the dentate gyrus during development and after pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus: a preliminary report.
OBJECTIVE
As axon outgrowth and dentate granule cell neurogenesis are hallmarks of hippocampal development and are also the two morphologic changes in the structure of the dentate gyrus after status epilepticus (SE), we hypothesized that molecules involved in normal development may also play a role during epileptogenesis.


METHODS
Using in situ hybridization, we have characterized mRNA expression of myocyte-specific enhancer binding factor 2C (MEF2C) in the dentate gyrus during development (P0, P3, P7, P14 and P28) and at multiple time points following pilocarpine-induced SE (3, 7, 14, 28 days after SE).


RESULTS
It was demonstrated that MEF2C is up-regulated during development (P0, P3, P7, P14 and P28) and in the adult rat dentate gyrus following SE (3, 7, 14, 28 days after SE).


CONCLUSIONS
The molecules controlling cell-fate decisions in the developing dentate gyrus are also operative during epileptogenesis.
Scorza
Carla Alessandra
CA
Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil. scorza.nexp@epm.br
Cavalheiro
Esper Abrão
EA
Scorza
Fulvio Alexandre
FA
D000818:Animals; D018891:Dentate Gyrus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development*; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D064326:MEF2 Transcription Factors; D008297:Male; D018006:Myogenic Regulatory Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D010862:Pilocarpine / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013226:Status Epilepticus / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism*
D064326:MEF2 Transcription Factors; D018006:Myogenic Regulatory Factors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D010862:Pilocarpine